Application for Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports in year 2023-24 starts

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced that the application for the 2023-24 Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports starts today (January 16). Local sports organizations may use the subvention to promote the development of new sports, thus providing more opportunities and choices for members of the public to take part in sports activities.

The pilot scheme opens for applications from now until March 3. Each successful applicant sports organisation will be offered a maximum of $150,000 or 85 percent of the total eligible expenditure of the individual activity, whichever is lower.

A sports organization wishing to apply for the subvention must be a non-profit making organization with Articles of Association registered as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). The new sport under application must be distinct from the sports/disciplines currently solely governed by national sports associations under the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. The applicant organization must also be recognized by and affiliated with an Asian federation/regional federation/international federation, and have experience in organizing successful sports development programs of various levels and types with participation by the public during the past two years.

As supplementary information for the applications, the applicant sports organizations shall provide a comprehensive long-term development and promotion plan. They should also provide relevant information on their competency in organizing and arranging programs. A well-established governance structure with transparent and accountable policies should also be put in place and should be widely recognized by the sports sector.

Priority will be given to new applicant sports organizations. As for re-applicant sports organizations, the LCSD will take into consideration their past performance and records when vetting their applications.